Source: Mnn.comBy Megan GannonIn Fiji's largest marine reserve, shark populations are benefiting from "no-take" protections that keep their food supply steady, according to a new study. Compared with waters where fishing is allowed, there are up to four times as many reef sharks in a protected zone called the Namena Reserve, researchers say. This 23-square-mile (60 square kilometers) reserve was designated in 1997 off the southern coast of Vanua Levu, Fiji's second largest island. For three weeks in July 2009, researchers used underwater video cameras to survey sharks at eight sites within Namena and eight sites outside the reserve. Hour-long clips from all 16 locations captured images of five different species: grey reef sharks, whitetips, blacktips, silvertips and zebra sharks. By analyzing this footage, researchers found that shark abundance and biomass in the protected zone was twice as great at shallow sites and four times as great at deep sites, compared with similar spots just outside of the reserve. [Images: Sharks & Whales from Above\ Sharks are harvested for their meat, liver oil, cartilage and their famously valuable fins; these cartilaginous parts are hacked off, often from live sharks, to be used in shark fin soup, a prized delicacy in East Asia. Since sharks have slow growth and reproductive rates, it can be difficult for their populations to bounce back from big losses and unsustainable hunting practices. A study published earlier this year estimated that 100 million sharks are killed by fisheries each year. In Fiji, tradition has kept shark harvesting in check. Many people in the island nation consider sharks to be sacred and see eating the predators as taboo, according to researchers with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) who worked on the new study. Within the Namena Reserve, sharks likely are thriving because restrictions on fishing make their prey plentiful, the researchers say."The news from Fiji gives us solid proof that marine reserves can have positive effects on reef shark populations," Caleb McClennen, director of WCS's Marine Program, said in a statement last week. "Shark populations are declining worldwide due to the demand for shark products, particularly fins for the Asian markets. We need to establish management strategies that will protect these ancient predators and the ecosystems they inhabit." Sharks in Fiji may still be vulnerable to foreign fishing fleets, the researchers warn, and local communities may be driven to hunt the venerated animals as prices for shark parts increase. According to the World Wildlife Fund, a shark's fin can sell for up to $135 per kilogram (about 2 lbs) in Hong Kong. There has been a recent international push to protect the apex predators. At the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), conservationists voted to regulate the trade of several shark species that are targeted for their fins. The study on the Namena Reserve was published online in the journal Coral Reefs.

Source: Fijitimes.comBy Tevita VuibauA high speed chase on the high seas, poachers, and a fight to protect a fishing reserve — it all seems like something out of a movie. But that exact sequence of events unfolded in the Namena Marine Reserve late last month as resort owners fought back against the poachers plundering the reserve for their own selfish means.Located on the island of Namenalala off the coast of Kubulau in Bua, Moody's Namena Eco-Resort is surrounded by approximately 70km of pristine reef known as the Namena Marine Reserve.The Kubulau bose vanua established the reserve as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in 1997 to discourage the commercial overfishing and illegal poaching which at the time were decimating food fish populations for the 10 local villages.On November 24 at 10pm, Moody's Namena Eco-Resort manager Nigel Simpson heard the sounds of a familiar engine and spotted the poachers' flashlights on the Namena barrier reef.Previous attempts to catch poachers by Mr Simpson and the three fish wardens employed at the resort proved futile, but their efforts were rewarded that night.He contacted his brother Captain Rodney Simpson — manager of L'Aventure Divers at Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort in Savusavu.Captain Simpson then contacted officer Gus Billings and at 11pm they started the one-hour trip out to Namena with five deckhands and officers on board the 32ft dive boat, Marama ni Wasa.Officer Billings said as the Marama ni Wasa approached the reef, the poachers, thinking it might be another poaching vessel, remained in the water with their SCUBA gear and spear guns.Only when Captain Simpson came alongside the open punt did the poachers realise what was happening."They quickly pulled their catch aboard and took off, leaving one of their men under water," officer Billings said.The two boats then set off on a high speed chase around the reserve with the poachers eventually caught at 12.30 am. More....

Source: Oceanfutures.orgHome to some of the world’s most beautiful and pristine coral reefs, Fiji is a jewel among many in the south pacific’s rich waters. Cradled between Fiji’s two main islands lies the Namena Marine Reserve, a marine protected area created in 1997 by the Fijian Kubalau community. Managed by the District of Kubulau and comprised of 10 Fijian village chiefs, the community has worked to preserve, protect, and better manage the natural marine resources that have been the Kubulau’s traditional fishing grounds for hundreds of years.When I first started exploring the breathtaking reefs of Fiji, I took for granted these untouched reefs as a place far off the beaten path and far from the destructive habits of humans. But how quickly that has changed over the past 30 years.Jean-Michel Cousteau Diving staff worked closely with the villages to establish Namena Marine Reserve. Every diver we take diving in the reserve pays an extra entrance fee that helps support the research and enforcement needed to keep this special reserve conserved for all to enjoy. However, difficulty remains in the enforcement of the marine reserve laws as police and reserve managers can only do so much in an area of water nearly 70 square kilometers. Illegal poaching continues to be an ongoing struggle, and while enforcement is able to stop and catch some of the illegal activity, far too many slip through the cracks. Most recently, a boat carrying huge quantities of illegal fish was caught by enforcement officers thanks to local observers who witnessed the activity within the reserve and quickly notified OFS’s Don Santee who manages the dive operation at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort, Fiji who then picked up the police authorities and headed out to catch the illegal spear fishermen at 1am on November 23rd.With an ever-increasing demand for fish in a sea that has begun to diminish its resources, there is no doubt that illegal practices will continue unless more enforcement can be put into place. This requires the help and awareness of local community members, and equally important, the awareness of global communities in understanding the importance of conserving our oceans valuable resources. The enforcement of marine protected areas is an unrelenting struggle for marine reserves around the world. If we are to protect the seas that we love, we must work together to enforce the laws we have created, and to instill the importance of conservation into the minds of those all across the globe.

Source: Fijisun.com.fjBy KeresiI NauwakarawaPoachers are now targeting live coral at the Namena Marine Reserve. This was revealed by the chief of Nadi village in Solevu, Bua, Tui Nadi, Ratu Peni Rasigare. Ratu Peni was in Suva this week for the launch of the book Ecotales from Kubulau at the Wildlife Conservation Society on Thursday. He said he had received reports of increasing coral thefts. “I’ve been told of the live coral theft at our marine reserve at Namena and this is a twist to the continuous poaching at the Namena Marine Reserve Park,” Ratu Peni said. The poachers he said were after live coral because of the attractive market price.

According to a marine biologist coral, sold mainly as decoratives in aquaria, are marine animals belonging to the class Anthozoa and exist typically in colonies of many identical individuals. Ratu Peni said the report he received confirmed that those involved were from Viti Levu and used gas to dive for live corals which were then sold to some middle men.

“I must admit that this is a totally new twist and we’ll alert the Fisheries Department and police on live coral theft at our marine reserve at Namena.” The Tui Nadi said the people of Kubulau had worked hard to protect reefs for the future generation.

A press release said – “The Namena MPA encompasses the entire reef around Namena Island, known as the Namena Barrier Reef, and is part of a larger network of marine protected areas set aside by the Kubulau District.

A multitude of species large and small reside here, including sharks, groupers, tuna, schools of barracuda, and multi-coloured soft corals and more.” Further information about Namena includes:

The Namena MPA is home to over 1000 species of invertebrates, 400 known corals, 445 documented marine plants and over 1100 fish species.

Namena is a migratory pathway for cetaceans, and you may encounter several species including bottlenose and spinner dolphins, as well as pilot, minke, sperm and humpback whales.

Namena provides nesting beaches for green and hawksbill turtles. In fact, Fiji has four of the world’s marine turtle species, all of which are endangered.

The Namena Island is a major seabird nesting site, with approximately 600 pairs of protected red- footed boobies. More....